Cap, Trade, Fail?

Over at WSJ there's a nice article running on what they're referring to as the coming "Cap & Trade War".

From an energy modeling perspective, let me tell you that this is going to hit people way, way harder than they might think. So far, the way most models have dealt with this is through the idea of a high level carbon tax which is just another line item trickling down to net income: slap on $40 / ton CO2 and then be on your way.

Having to figure out the intricacies of a cap & trade system while simultaneously fending off foreign energy attacks and dealing with this economy could put an enormous strain on companies fighting to stay afloat during the Recession...

Nuclear isn't as bad as you think!

"...Thirty years after the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania led to moratoriums on new plants across the nation, concerns about the cost and safety of nuclear power remain, including what to do with the growing stockpiles of highly radioactive waste from the nation's reactors..."

If we could only be a bit more open-minded when it comes to nukes, we could have a network of plentiful, clean energy that fuels the entire United States with little difficulty.

Instead, we demonize the technology by reading emotions into it when in truth, nuclear is safer and cleaner than any option out there.

It's expensive, to be sure, but what plant project isn't? And we've worked the science: to the best of our knowledge the waste will not harm anyone when properly stored.

Legitimate concerns, but next to a coal plant I'll take a nuke any day of the week.

Quote courtesy of SFGate

Bittman v. Colbert

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

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See Mark Bittman of How to Cook Everything and the New York Times chat with Colbert. A little bit of laughter does a body good during these bleak times...

Cheap Solar, but at what Cost?

Arizona company First Solar posted the first ever $1 / Watt solar panels the other day, well ahead of the industry average. The question on my mind, though, is whether this matters at all. Solar panels are poised to provide such an infinitesimal portion of the overall energy needs of the planet that I'm wondering whether a larger, game-changing solar advance needs to be made.

Incremental is wonderful, but honestly if we want a solution that will save the environment and also let us provide enough energy for us to grow effectively in the future, maybe it's time we turn away from solar panels and to larger, more effective collector systems that will create energy for the grid in its entirety.

Or maybe I'm entirely wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

Scaling Solar

Focus on renewables has been enormously popular lately, both with the media at large and popular opinion, but now things are getting serious.

Seriously large, at least.

One of the primary concerns of solar naysayers are those who wonder what type of economies of scale are actually necessary to make the (relatively) expensive photovoltaic panels worthy of an investment. At 1,300 MW, the latest solar project from SoCal Edison may just show us what that number might be.

For your reference, a comparison of average capacities by type of fuel (click for larger view):

Note the ludicrously large difference between the average solar project and SoCal Edison's proposal. They haven't disclosed financing details, but I promise I'll be all over them to give you the scoop once something leaks out...

Kennedy v. New Yorker

Apparently Kennedy Research has put out a new piece stating that Management Consulting isn't going to have as hard a time as the previous downturn in 2001:

"While slowing demand for consulting services is effectively impeding utilization rates and compensation growth rates, many North American firms concede that the need to retain top talent outweighs profitability pressures. Currently, firms continue to hire aggressively especially for senior-level positions..."

At the same time, The New Yorker seems to have a different point of view:


Given some personal experiences in the last few weeks, I would have to side with The New Yorker. *Sigh*

And Now for Something Completely Different...

...apparently the global financial crisis we find ourselves in has not been all gloom-and-doom; it has also inspired some music. Whether this makes anyone feel better about things is questionable. Enjoy anyway: